14 DAY TRIAL // A new development milestone of Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 has been made available for download, with Microsoft encouraging existing members of the Beta testing program to upgrade to the latest Build. Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0.522.0 Beta continues to be served through Microsoft Connect, which means that early adopters will need a valid Windows Live ID in order to sign-in and grab the fresh bits offered by the software giant.
In addition, the Redmond company is also pushing Build 2.0.522.0 of the next major iteration of Microsoft Security Essentials through Windows Update.
However, only testers that have previously downloaded and installed older Beta releases of MSE 2.0 will be receiving the latest version through Windows Update.
“If you are running an older version of the Microsoft Security Essentials Beta, we encourage you to upgrade to the latest version of the beta.
“Upgrading now will help ensure continuous protection against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software,” Microsoft reveals in the Knowledge Base article accompanying Build 2.0.522.0 Beta of MSE.
Essentially, all users running MSE 2.0 Build 2.0.375.0 or older will be prompted to upgrade via WU.
Of course, the latest release of Microsoft Security Essentials also contains enhancements and changes from the previous Beta.
This indicates that the Build is more of a new development milestone, and not a simple interim testing version.
While there have been indications that Build 2.0.522.0 is actually the Release Candidate (RC) of Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0, Microsoft did not confirm this.
Instead, the company appears to want early adopters to think about the release as just a Beta Refresh, per the model introduced with Windows Live Essentials 2011.
“The Microsoft Security Essentials team has made improvements to the quality of the product including performance enhancements as well as some user interface modifications. In particular, the team decided to remove the protection against web threats feature in the Security Essentials Beta as it was causing PC performance issues,” Microsoft explained.
There are additional changes detailed by the software giant on Microsoft Connect:
“Windows Firewall integration: Microsoft Security Essentials setup allows you to turn on Windows Firewall.
“New and improved protection engine: The updated engine offers enhanced detection and cleanup capabilities and better performance. “
The first Beta of Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 was delivered in July 2010, with Microsoft reportedly planning to release the security solution to manufacturing by the end of this year.
The successor of MSE 1.0 will continue to be available free of charge to users of genuine Windows around the world, and most probably will also end up being pushed automatically through Windows Update.
“If you are running version 2.0.375.0 or older, you may notice an action item which asks you to upgrade to the latest version of Microsoft Security Essentials Beta through the Microsoft Security Essentials notification messages.
“You may also notice some important or optional downloads (based on your Microsoft Update settings) on Microsoft Update which will be used to upgrade you to the latest version of Microsoft Security Essentials Beta.
“While upgrading to the latest version of Microsoft Security Essentials Beta, you may be installing other security updates via Microsoft Update that might require your PC to restart.
“In some cases, you may not be able to successfully upgrade to the latest version of Microsoft Security Essentials Beta and might be unprotected from viruses, spyware and other malicious software,” Microsoft explained.
Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0 is available for download here.